Description
Mel de Barroso PDO is honey from the black bee of the Apis mellifera Iberica species. The nectar comes from the naturally occurring wild flowers in the area where it is made, which consists mostly of heather.
Production Area
Mel de Barroso PDO is made in the municipal areas of Boticas, Montalegre, Chaves, Vila Pouca de Aguiar and Murça, in the district of Vila Real.
Production Method
The hives can be no further than 1.000 m from eucalyptus woods. No phytosanitary treatments are permitted and if any need should arise, permission from the authorities must be sought. The honey is extracted from July to September by means of compressed air or the traditional combing method. Extraction and filtering can only be carried out in the same area as the honey is produced, in authorized premises at a temperature of no greater than 45°C.
Appearance and Flavour
Mel de Barroso PDO is dark in colour and has a flavour and aroma reflecting the regional flora, where heather predominates. Because this honey is a completely natural product and has undergone no industrial processes it tends to crystallise very easily, especially in cold temperatures. This does not occur in processed honey and is therefore further guarantee of its purity and high quality.
History
Written and oral references to the production of Mel de Barroso PDO honey date far back into the past. References to bee keeping are to be heard in the local proverbs and can also be seen in family insignias and even in the local surnames and place names.
Gastronomy
Mel de Barroso PDO honey should be stored in the cool and dark, away from sources of heat. This honey is in great demand not only as a food or as an ingredient in cakes and pastries but also for its therapeutic properties (either taken orally or applied to the skin). It contains an infinite wealth of nutritional substances and is an excellent and healthy food. Recipes for the local regional cooking of this area list Mel de Barroso PDO honey as an important ingredient in dishes such as rojões no mel de barroso which is a stew made with Carne de Bísaro Transmontano PDO pork covered in honey, or rabanadas com mel de barroso which are slices of bread dipped in honey and milk and then fried.
Marketing
This honey is sold as Mel de Barroso PDO. It is available as a centrifuged, clear or set honey or in its natural state in granules. Honey containing more than 35% of pollen from heather can be called Mel de Urze. It is sold in glass jars of various sizes up to 1 kg.
Distinctive Features
The special characteristics of Mel de Barroso PDO honey come from the extraordinary abundance of the natural vegetation on the mountain plateaus of Barroso, dominated by heather, which has led to the presence of a large number of bee colonies producing this high quality honey.
